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Re: In an experiment, volunteers walked individually through a dark, aband
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01 Sep 2018, 21:31

1

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In an experiment, volunteers walked individually through a dark, abandoned theater. Half of the volunteers had been told that the theater was haunted and the other half that it was under renovation. The first half reported significantly more unusual experiences than the second did. The researchers concluded that reports of encounters with ghosts and other supernatural entities generally result from prior expectations of such experiences.

Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the researchers’ reasoning?

A. None of the volunteers in the second half believed that the unusual experiences they reported were supernatural.B. All of the volunteers in the first half believed that the researchers’ statement that the theater was haunted was a lie.C. Before being told about the theater, the volunteers within each group varied considerably in their prior beliefs about supernatural experiences.D. Each unusual experience reported by the volunteers had a cause that did not involve the supernatural.E. The researchers did not believe that the theater was haunted.

CONCLUSION:reports of encounters with ghosts and other supernatural entities generally result from prior expectations of such experiences.If any option weakens this one that must be our answer.Lets check each option

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A. None of the volunteers in the second half believed that the unusual experiences they reported were supernatural.

The conclusion is talking about first half of students not second half. IRRELEVANT.

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B. All of the volunteers in the first half believed that the researchers’ statement that the theater was haunted was a lie.

Hmm.. If first half of volunteers has not believed the researchers statement then the researchers conclusion is false because even without expectations they were scared.SO keep B .

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C. Before being told about the theater, the volunteers within each group varied considerably in their prior beliefs about supernatural experiences.

we should not assume something that is not mentioned in the passage.-OUT OF SCOPE.

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D. Each unusual experience reported by the volunteers had a cause that did not involve the supernatural.

This option is contradicting the argument because the researchers concluded that encounters of ghosts and other supernatural entities is because of prior expectations. we must take this as true and weaken the conclusion this ios not a reason to weaken the conclusion.In turn it is contradicting the original argument.ELIMINATE IT.

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E. The researchers did not believe that the theater was haunted.

This is IRRELEVANT.so Bis the Left out and the winner.
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Re: In an experiment, volunteers walked individually through a dark, aband
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16 Sep 2018, 20:07

AbdurRakib wrote:

In an experiment, volunteers walked individually through a dark, abandoned theater. Half of the volunteers had been told that the theater was haunted and the other half that it was under renovation. The first half reported significantly more unusual experiences than the second did. The researchers concluded that reports of encounters with ghosts and other supernatural entities generally result from prior expectations of such experiences.

Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the researchers’ reasoning?

A. None of the volunteers in the second half believed that the unusual experiences they reported were supernatural. B. All of the volunteers in the first half believed that the researchers’ statement that the theater was haunted was a lie. C. Before being told about the theater, the volunteers within each group varied considerably in their prior beliefs about supernatural experiences. D. Each unusual experience reported by the volunteers had a cause that did not involve the supernatural. E. The researchers did not believe that the theater was haunted.

Option B: If all of the volunteers in the first half believed that the researchers' statement was a lie, then there is probably not a big difference between the two groups. Hence the reports of encounters are not based on prior experiences.

Re: In an experiment, volunteers walked individually through a dark, aband
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08 Oct 2018, 23:30

In an experiment, volunteers walked individually through a dark, abandoned theater. Half of the volunteers had been told that the theater was haunted and the other half that it was under renovation. The first half reported significantly more unusual experiences than the second did. The researchers concluded that reports of encounters with ghosts and other supernatural entities generally result from prior expectations of such experiences.

main point:prior expectation/information abt ghost dont result in reports of unusual experiencesgiven thata) 50% were told abt presence of ghost b) 50% were told construction is going on c)both exp unusual but 1st grp exp more

pre-think:what if actual ghost is present what if unusual exp donot lead to ghost encounters

Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the researchers’ reasoning?

A. None of the volunteers in the second half believed that the unusual experiences they reported were supernatural.there is again a chance that 1st group may/maynot believe the same. hence relevant but not conclusive

B. All of the volunteers in the first half believed that the researchers’ statement that the theater was haunted was a lie.could be a possibility, if they dont believe, then not expecting. hence it address the link expectation-reports

C. Before being told about the theater, the volunteers within each group varied considerably in their prior beliefs about supernatural experiences.the degree of variance in belief abt ghost is not a proof that people exncounter because of expectation/belief. out of scope

D. Each unusual experience reported by the volunteers had a cause that did not involve the supernatural.here unusual is not supernatural. it is could be relevant but it is not talking abt the expectation part. hence not a complete story.

E. The researchers did not believe that the theater was haunted.belief of researchers is irrelevant.